Last week, the Metro claimed Tim Sherwood is lining up a £10m summer move for the 20-year-old, who has scored 18 goals in 29 matches to help fire Standard to the top of the Juliper Pro League and rejected a move to Anderlecht in January.

However, on the same day as the Metro’s article was published, Standard Liege owner Roland Duchatelet insisted we have no interest in Batshuayi and said he had spoken to Daniel Levy about the player.

“There’s another European giant interested in Batshuayi,” Duchatelet was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

“There’s no interest from Tottenham as far as I know.

“I’ve talked to the strong man of Spurs [chairman Daniel Levy] on Thursday and he has confirmed to me that they don’t want to sign Batshuayi.

“Benfica, though, have contacted us. They have confirmed they want to sign Batshuayi.”

Ars*nal have also been linked with the youngster, who has understandably been compared to both Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke, and claimed earlier this month: “There is a good philosophy at that club [Arsenal] and there is confidence in young players in a technically strong team that cares about football. I’ve loved the club from childhood.”

Whatever the truth, it’s likely we’ll be in the market for a new striker this summer, after Jermain Defoe’s departure left just a misfiring Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor to pick from.

Childhood loyalties aside, Batshuayi would probably be a good option at around £10m. We remain unable to attract the finished articles, so a young striker with the potential to be world class is the best we can hope for.

If he proves as successful as compatriots Benteke, Lukaku, Jan Vertonghen, Eden Hazard and Kevin Mirallas in the Premier League, it will be money well spent.